It begins with a fanfare bigger than Spinal Tap's collective hair. And as is usual with Ronny Mooring's outfit (his "band", and probably his chosen attire as well) much of this comeback debut comes off as a bit contrived and melodramatic - - not to say overwrought; there is no "Agonized By Love" this time around. But it probably depends on how seriously you take it. All minor keys and synthblasts, when it's good ("Going Round '97"; "Out Of The Rain"; "Special Friends") it's exhilarating; when it's bad ("This World"; the egregiously phony "Wailing Wall") it's just plain bad. In between are atmospheric instrumentals like "November", which punctuates its lead from your favorite funeral dirge with fake oboe, and the self-descriptive "Piano Piece" which should more correctly be titled "My Favorite Synth Piano-Patch Piece". Some songs pound ("Sing A Song"; "It's All A Lie" - -hey, Ronny fesses up!!) while others ("Your Vice") sort of float along in synthetic serenity aiming, I suppose, at detached irony. One of the best tracks, though, isn't even on this CD: the instrumental "Flatlands", included as a bonus track on the "Out Of The Rain/Going Round '97" single. Okay then, not a total miss. But personally I miss Anka Wolbert. Oh, and Peter Wooten. Guess I take it a little too seriously, eh.